Browse our reports to find out about Ontario’s universities’ role in everything from jobs and skills to health care and community transformation.
In Partnering to Drive Jobs and Growth, we outline how now, more than ever, we must work together to address some of the biggest challenges facing Ontarians, including meeting labour force needs, rebuilding a strained health-care system and fostering innovation and economic growth. Ontario’s universities can and will continue to be partners in finding solutions to these challenges by supporting student success; driving a competitive economy; fueling regional economic development; rebuilding the health-care system; and transforming to meet the changing needs of students, communities and the province. Through strong partnerships, universities can continue to make these vital contributions and build the better and brighter future for our province that we all want to see.
COVID-19 has created a shift in the types of skills employers need and has only accelerated change in an ever-evolving labour market. To help build a strong foundation for talent, now and in the future, Ontarians will need increased access to reskilling and upskilling opportunities, such as micro-credential, short-duration and continuing education programs, that also support life-long learning throughout their careers.
Ontario’s universities have a vital role to play in the economic recovery of Ontario’s communities and they contribute to the provincial and regional GDP in substantial ways. The October 2021 Conference Board of Canada report, Economic Impact of Ontario Universities: Assessing the Regional Economic Impacts of Universities in Ontario, tells us that the combined impact of spending from Ontario university activities ($45.6 billion) and human capital development ($50.6 billion) is $96.2 billion annually, corresponding to 11.7% of provincial GDP during the 2018–2019 period.
